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Traditional Cures for Modern Conflicts: African Conflict “Medicine”

I. William Zartman, editor
Traditional Cures for Modern Conflicts: African Conflict “Medicine”
ISBN: 978-1-55587-876-4
$65.00
ISBN: 978-1-62637-123-1
$65.00
1999/262 pages/LC: 99-24150
SAIS African Studies Library
"A sound analysis of the possible value of indigenous conflict settlement practices."—Saskia Van Hoyweghen, African Studies Quarterly

"This is an innovative venture in comparative political analysis.... a volume of extremely well-written and argumentatively sound essays."—Bamidele A. Ojo, African Studies Review

DESCRIPTION

Medical science has taken a new look at indigenous African healing practices, asking whether unique knowledge exists in traditional societies or whether Western and traditional societies developed the same knowledge with different names. In a similar vein, this study considers traditional African conflict-management practices.

The authors identify the contributions of traditional mechanisms for conflict management in Africa and elsewhere, seeking to determine what is new and different. With African conflicts today eluding both international and domestic efforts to bring them under control, their work is guided by this crucial question: Can traditional methods yield insights and approaches that might help to end the persistent violence?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I. William Zartman is professor emeritus at the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University.

CONTENTS

  • Introduction—I.W. Zartman.
  • MANAGING CONFLICT IN TRADITIONAL AFRICAN SOCIETIES.
  • Social Relations and Peacekeeping Among the Igbo—E.E. Uwazie.
  • Bases of Traditional Conflict Management Among the Buems of the Ghana-Togo Border—B.K. Fred-Mensah.
  • Conflict Prevention and Resolution Among the Fulbe—W. Wilson-Fall.
  • West Coast Diplomacy Among the Akan and Their Neighbors—E. Kwam Kouassi.
  • Indigenous Processes of Conflict Resolution in Oromo Society—H. Tuso.
  • Reaching Out: A Dinka Principle of Conflict Management—F.M. Deng.
  • OTHER TRADITIONAL APPROACHES TO RECONCILIATION.
  • Rituals of Forgiveness and Processes of Empowerment in Lebanon—L.E. King-Irani.
  • Contrasts in Conflict Management in Cleveland and Palestine—M. Abu-Nimer.
  • Traditional Conflict Management in Africa and China—G.O. Faure.
  • APPLYING TRADITIONAL METHODS TO MODERN CONFLICT MANAGEMENT.
  • Xhosa Practices of Ubuntu for South Africa—N. Masina.
  • Traditional Conflict Management in Contemporary Somalia—K. Menkhaus.
  • Applying Traditional Methods to Modern Conflict: Possibilities and Limits—E.E. Osaghae.
  • Conclusions: Changes in the New Order and the Place for the Old—I.W. Zartman.